Preserving bivalves



(No Model.) Q

G. S. HIRST. PRBSBRVING BIVALVES.

No. 568,482 Patented Sept. 29,- 1896 wljisslza Q Q71 0-76), BY Y M m: "aims PETERS co, PROTQLIYNOJWASNINGTON. 0.1;.

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES S. I-IIRST, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN OR TO THE EXPORTERS LOOKED SHELL OYSTER COMPANY, OF VIRGINIA.

PRESERVING BIVALVES.

srncirrcnrron forming part of Letters r atent No. 568,482, dated September 29, 1896.

Application filed October 1, 1895, $eria1No.564,316. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. Hrnsr, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Preserving Oysters, &c., which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention consists of a novel method of and means for closing the shells of oysters, clams, 850., so that the latter are kept alive and retain their liquors and juices and when opened they will be found in good and healthy condition. I

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a bivalve preserved by means embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents asection thereof on line 00 m, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate the corresponding parts in both figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates an oyster. In the bills B of the shells thereof are the openings 0.

D designates a pin or plug which is fitted in said openings 0 and formed of wood or other suitable material that will absorb some of the liquor or juices of the oyster from within the shells, or of water that may be poured into or placed in the barrels, &c., in which the oyster may be packed, whereby the plug swells or expands in the openings, and the ends of the plug swell or expand to a greater extent, forming heads covering the edges of the opening after the manner of rivets, whereby the shells are held tightly closed and the oyster is hermetically sealed, it being evident that the plug cannot be knocked out in the handling or transportation of the oyster.

WVhen the oyster is to be opened, the plug may be removed with the breaking of the shells for the insertion of the knife.

It is evident that more than one plug may be employed, if desired, in which case the number of openings in the bills will be increased.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The'improved method of preserving a bivalve, which consists in perforating the shells at a point opposite to the hinge and securing them together by a wooden plug passed through the perforations, said plug being adapted'to absorb fluid and expand in said perforations, substantially as described.

2. A bivalve having an opening in the bill of each of its shells and a Wooden plug tightly pressing against the Walls of said openings, and having its ends expanded covering the edges of said openings, said parts being combined, substantially'as described.

CHARLES S. HIRST. WVitnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, R. H. GRAESER. 

